"It fuels all of us," Colter said. "Even though we could be undefeated (9-3 with all losses close), we still haven't gained that respect."

Mark played second fiddle to Wisconsin's Montee Ball and Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell. That's logical if you go by rushing yards rather than yards per carry. Mark gained 6.2 yards per attempt, while Ball was at 5.2 and Bell 4.7. Mark also led the league in all-purpose yards, thanks to his returns.

"In my opinion, he's the best running back in the conference," coach Pat Fitzgerald said. "Montee and Le'Veon are great players, but no one was more productive as a football player than Venric."

Mark said that when Fitzgerald informed him that he did not make first-team, he was "a little down, a little upset. But he thinks I'm the best running back, and that's all that matters to me."

Primate time: Last year the Wildcats transported a stuffed monkey wearing a No. 63 jersey around in Houston before their bowl game, a symbol of NU's bowl losing streak that begin after the 1949 Rose.

A loss to Texas A&M prevented the players from tearing up the monkey on their back.

Some fans and players rankled at all the TV time the monkey received. Perhaps that's why athletic director Jim Phillips told WGN-AM 720: "That stuffed monkey will not have a seat on the plane. The stuffed monkey is not coming with us."

Fitzgerald's take?

"A year ago, it was fun," he said. "But we're a totally different team, especially given the way we played the last month. But it's college football; if you're not having fun, then why are you doing it?"

Possible compromise: Hide the thing and only bring it out if the Wildcats beat Mississippi State on Jan. 1.

The plan: The Wildcats will devote eight bowl practices to developing their younger players. They will install the Gator Bowl game plan before releasing the players on Dec. 20 for a five-day Christmas break. They will have a walk-through Dec. 26 in Jacksonville before practices resume the next day.